Apparatus for making pleated material



March 24, 1953 F. A. AGEE 2,632,495

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEATED MATERIAL Filed Nov. 4, 1949 INVENTOR, f-Zow5'. H66;

Patented Mar. 24, 1953 APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLEATED MATERIAL Floyd A.Agee, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application November 4, 1949, Serial No. 125,470

Claims. 1

This invention relates to pleated material, and is particularlyconcerned with pleated material as an article of manufacture and withthe apparatus for making the same.

One of the objects of my invention is to pro- I vide a novel apparatusfor pleating paper and like materials. 7 I

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus forforming a continuous series of parallel transverse pleats in a webofpaper or similar material.

In the selective painting of surfaces, it is a common practice to maskoff a portion of the surface with a paper apron, or mask, secured by astrip of masking tape, leaving unmasked only the area to be painted.So-called masking machines are commercially available to facilitate thiswork. These machines provide a straight web of paper having a strip ofmasking tape adhered to one edge of the paper in an overlapping fashionso that the paper apron may be aiiixed to the surface to be painted. Inorder to mask a curved area, such as, for example, when it is desired topaint only the fender of an automobile, masking the body adjacentthe'fender, it has heretofore been necessary to apply a large number ofstraight-edged segments of masking material to form the curved edge, orto dispense with the conventional masking :machine entirely and attemptto cut, by hand, an apron of they desired shape.

Another object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a novel form ofmasking material to be used in the painting of areas defined by a curvedline.

,A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus for producinga novel form of masking material to be used in the painting of areasdefined by a'curved line, which apparatus may also be adapted to providemasking material having a straight edge.

' Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will beapparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment, thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

Figure' 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a preferred embodiment of myinvention.

' Figure 2 is a. sectional elevation taken substantially on the line 22of Figure 1.

Y Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional t view illustrating thepleating action of the coacting rollers.

, Referring now to the drawings, a preferred form of machineillustrating my invention includes a frame I0 consisting of parallelside plates II and I2 and suitable transverse connecting members 3|,only one of which is shown for purposes of clarity.

Paper feed roller i3 is journaled in plate l2 and bracket i5 andis'provided with the usual braking means (not shown) for securing theproper tension on the web 14 as it is unwound from the roller. Pleatingrollers it and ll, with their axes in horizontal alignment, are securedon parallel shafts l8 and i9, respectively, which are journaled in sideplates II and i2. Said pleat.- ing rollers It and ii, preferably ofresilient material such as hard rubber, and of substantially equaldiameter, are spaced so as to allow a slight clearance therebetween;

A weighted pleating roller 20, preferably of steel and having a hardsmooth surface, is positioned above and between pleating rollers l6 andi7. Said roller 20 is keyed to a shaft 2| which is parallel to shafts l8and i9 and journaled in a pair of vertical slots (not shown) in sideplates II and I2 so that roller 28 rests upon and forms a pair of biteswith rollers l6 and I1.

Means are provided to drive pleating rollers l6 and ii in the sameangular direction and at relatively different peripheral speeds. Asshown in Figures 1 and 2, these means may include driving gear 22carried on drive shaft 23, to which is secured hand crank 24 having ahandle 25.

Drive shaft 23 is slidably journaled in side plate Ii whereby drivinggear 22 may be engaged with, or disengaged from driven gears 26 and 21which are carried on shafts l8 and i9 respectively. As will be notedfrom the drawings, driven gear 26 has a smaller diameter than drivengear 27, so that when the gears are engaged, roller [6 may be driven ata faster speed than roller [1.

A spool 28 of conventional masking tape is mounted, below the pleatingrollers I6 and IT, on shaft 29 which is carriedon side plate ll.Suitable braking means (not shown) may be provided for securing theproper tension on the tape 36 as it is unwound from the spool.

The moderof operation of my device is as follows: The web M of paper isled horizontally from sup-ply roller I3 and thence over rollers l6 andI7 and under weighted pleating roller 20. Driving gear 22 isengaged'with driven gears 26 and 21 and crank 24 is rotated in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. This causes pleatingrollers 16 and I! to turn, at relatively different speeds as describedabove, in the direction of the arrows inFigure 2. The frictional contactbetween weighted roller 20, web l4 and pleating roller I6 is sufficientto cause the weighted roller to be rotated counter-clockwise, that is,in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2, and to pull the paper off thesupply roll. Due to the fact that roller I6 is rotating at a fasterspeed than is roller H, a form of back pressure is set up, causing theweb to form a transverse U-shaped loop 3| in the area between therollers.

As the rollers l6, l1 and continue to rotate, the leading edge 32, ofthe loop is pushed into the bite between rollers I! and 20. It will beunderstood that due to the diiference in speed between rollers I6 andI1, and to the fact that the weighted roller 20 is driven through thefrictional contact between rollers 20 and I6, roller 20 will have aperipheral velocity greater than that of roller H. The roller 20, havinga smooth, hard surface will, therefore, slip with respect to the web M,the web being carried forward on roller I'l without slippage therewith,since the coeflicient of friction between the paper web and the rubbersurface of roller I1 is greater than between the paper web and thesmooth, hard surface of roller 20. This slippage, in conjunction withthe weight of roller 20, will cause the leading edge 32 to be sharplycreased as it passes through the bite between rollers 20 and ll. The

trailing edge 33 will then'be pulled through the bite and creased in asimilar fashion.

Continued turning of the hand-crank 24 will produce a straight-edged webof paper having a series of paralled transverse pleats therein. Thespacing of the pleats may be varied, depending upon the relative speedsof rollers l6 and H, which may be varied by replacing the gearing withother sizes. The size of the pleats may be varied by changing thediameters of the rollers. Pleated paper of this type has many uses, suchas for decorations, shelf hangings, and industrial uses familiar tothose in the art.

As pointed out above, the machine may be adapted to produce a maskingapron having a curved, taped edge. This may be accomplished in thefollowing manner. Masking tape 36 is fed up between rollers l6 and I1and secured to the underside of the web 14 in such a manner thatapproximately one-half of the width of the tape is allowed to overlapfrom the edge I la thereof as shown in Figure 1. The adhesive side ofthe tape faces upwards in Figure 1, and to the left and upwards asviewed in Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 1, the weighted pleatingroller 20 overlaps the edge I la. of the web l4 only slightly. Althoughnot apparent in Figures 2 and 3, due to the fact that the thickness ofthe web l4 and the tape 39 has been exaggerated in order to bestillustrate the operation of the machine, a narrow portion of the tapeadheres to the roller 20 at the point where the roller overlies the edge[4a (see Figure 1). While this is not essential to the operation of thedevice, it greatly facilitates the proper use thereof as describedbelow.

The pleating operation is substantially the same as described above,except that as the paper is being creased between rollers 20 and II, thetape 30 is being fed off the spool 28 and adhered to the web 14. Theadhesion between the tape and the overlapping portion of roller 20,mentioned above, helps to maintain the correct tension on the tape 30 topull it off the spool 28. This adhesion is only temporary for any oneportion of the tape 30, since the bond between the tape 30 and the paperweb [4 is obviously greater than that between the tape 30 and steelroller 20, and hence the tape is carried through the bite betweenrollers 20 and I! along with the pleated web. It will be noted (seeFigures 2 and 3) that the tape 30 will adhere to only part of each pleat34, the bond being sufficient, however, to securely hold the pleatstogether at the edge Ma. The opposite end of the Web Hi being free,however, the pleats tend naturally to spread, and the web therefore isfed from the rollers in the curved or fan-shape shown in Figure 1.

It is to be understood that I contemplate the use of commerciallyavailable masking tape having an adhesive material on one side and whichis formed from creped or toweled paper so that it is somewhatstretchable and resilient. The tape 30, therefore, may be curved in oneplane as shown. Furthermore, while the pleated web tends naturally toleave. the machine in the shape illustrated in Figure 1, the flexibilityof the tape and the pleated web will permit the operator to curve theweb to fit the particular job to be done. A saw-toothed tearing bar 35may be provided so that portions of the desired length may be separatedfrom the web.

If it is desired to use a masking apron having a straight edge, thedriving gear 22 may be disengaged, as shown by the phantom lines ofFigure 1, and the web drawn through the rollers by hand. This willproduce a straight web of unpleated taped paper.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention,I do not limit myself to the exact details of the construction setforth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications andequivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as comewithin the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pleating machine, a pair of spaced parallel rollers; means fordriving said rollers in the same angular direction and at relativelydifferent speeds; and a third roller coacting with said pair of rollersso as to form a bite between said third roller and each of said pair ofrollers.

2. In a pleating machine, a pair of spaced parallel resilient rollers;means for driving said rollers in the same angular direction and atrelatively different speeds; and a third roller coacting with said pairof rollers so as to form a bite between said third roller and each ofsaid pair of rollers.

3. In a pleating machine, the combination of: a frame; a pair of spacedparallel rollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both ofsaid rollers may be driven in the same angular direction but atrelatively different speeds; and a weighted roller journaled in saidframe parallel to said pair of rollers and coacting therewith so as toform a pair of bites, one between said weighted roller and each of saidpair of rollers.

4. In a pleating machine, the combination of z a frame; a pair of spacedparallel rollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both ofsaid rollers may be driven in the same angular direction but atrelatively different speeds; and a weighted roller journaled in saidframe parallel to said pair of rollers and coacting therewith so as toform a pair of bites, one between said weighted roller and each of saidpair of rollers, whereby a web to be pleated may be drawn into the bitebetween the weighted roller and the faster roller of said pair ofrollers and thence into the bite between the weighted roller and theslower roller of said pair of rollers, a back pressure being set up dueto the relative difference in angular speed between said pair ofrollers, causing the web to form a series of transverse loops in thevoid between said pair of rollers, said loops being continuously drawninto the bite between said weighted roller and the slower of said pairof rollers, whereby successive transverse pleats may be formed in theweb.

5. In a pleating machine, the combination of z a frame; a web supplyroll carried in said frame; a pair of spaced parallel resilient pleatingrollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both of saidrollers may be driven in the same angular direction but at relativelydifferent speeds; a weighted pleating roller journaled in said frameabove and parallel to said pair of rollers and coacting therewith so asto form a pair of bites between which said web may be drawn; and asupply spool for masking tape mounted on said frame below said pair ofrollers whereby masking tape may be fed between said pair of rollers andinto the bite between said weighted roller and the faster of said pairof rollers therein to be overlappingly adhered to the edge of said web.

6. In a pleating machine, the combination of: a frame; a web supply rollcarried in said frame; a pair of spaced parallel resilient pleatingrollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both of saidrollers may be driven in the same angular direction but at relativelydifferent speeds; means whereby said drive means may be disengaged toallow free rotation of said pair of rollers; a weighted pleating rollerjournaled in said frame above and parallel to said pair of rollers andcoacting therewith so as to form a pair of bites between which said webmay be drawn; and a supply spool for masking tape mounted on said framebelow said pair of rollers whereby masking tape may be fed between saidpair of rollers and into the bite between said weighted roller and thefaster of said pair of rollers therein to be overlappingly adhered tothe edge of said web.

'7. In a pleating machine, the combination of: a frame; a web supplyroll carried in said frame; a pair of spaced parallel resilient pleatingrollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both of saidrollers may be driven in the same angular direction but at relativelydifferent speeds; means whereby said drive means may be disengaged toallow free rotation of said pair of rollers; a weighted pleating rollerjournaled in said frame above and parallel to said pair of rollers andcoacting therewith so as to form a pair of bites between which said webmay be drawn; a supply spool for masking tape mounted on said framebelow said pair of rollers whereby masking tape may be fed between saidpair of rollers and into the bite between said weighted roller and thefaster of said pair of rollers therein to be overlappingly adhered tothe edge of said web; and cutter means on said frame whereby a desiredlength of pleated material may be separated from the web.

8. In a pleating machine, the combination of: a frame; a web supply rollcarried in said frame;

a pair of spaced parallel resilient pleating rollers journaled in saidframe; drive means whereby both of said rollers may be driven in thesame angular direction but at relatively different speeds; means wherebysaid drive means may be disengaged to allow free rotation of said pairof rollers; a weighted pleating roller journaled in said frame above andparallel to said pair of rollers and coacting therewith so as to form apair of bites between which said web may be drawn; a supply spool formasking tape mounted on said frame below said pair of rollers wherebymasking tape may be fed between said pair of rollers and into the bitebetween said weighted roller and the faster of said pair of rollerstherein to be overlappingly adhered to the edge of said web, saidweighted roller being adapted to continuously pull the masking tape fromsaid spool; and cutter means on said frame whereby a desired length ofpleated material may be separated from the web.

9. In a pleating machine, the combination of: a frame; a pair of spacedparallel rollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both ofsaid rollers may be driven in the same angular direction but atrelatively different speeds; and a weighted roller journaled in saidframe parallel to and above said pair of rollers and resting by gravitythereon so as to form a pair of bites, one between said weighted rollerand each of said pair of rollers.

10. In a pleating machine, the combination of: a frame; a web supplyroll carried in said frame; a pair of spaced parallel resilient pleatingrollers journaled in said frame; drive means whereby both of saidrollers may be driven in the same angular direction but at relativelydifferent speeds; means whereby said drive means may be disengaged toallow free rotation of said pair of rollers; a weighted pleating rollerjournaled in said frame above and parallel to said pair of rollers andcoacting therewith so as to form a pair of bites between which said webmay be drawn; and a supply spool for masking tape mounted on said framebelow said pair of rollers whereby masking tape may be fed between saidpair of rollers and into the bite between said weighted roller and thefaster of said pair of rollers therein to be overlappingly adhered tothe edge of said web, said weighted roller being adapted to continuouslypull the masking tape from said spool.

I FLOYD A. AGEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I Re. 19,128 Drew Apr. 3, 19342,070,645 Bishop Feb. 16, 1937 2,571,978 Watson Oct. 16, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 95,040 Germany Nov. 16, 1897

